Annual report
Zoom
Agriculture
Citizen mobilization
Agricultural finance
- Facilitating Financial Access for Sahelian Family Agriculture
Facilitating Financial Access for Sahelian Family Agriculture
Review of eight years of the AGRI+ programme in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger
In 2024, SOS Faim, in collaboration with the Institut Agro and Inter-Réseaux, carried out a capitalisation process on the AGRI+ programme. This programme, which ran for almost ten years, aimed to improve the living conditions of family farmers in the Sahel, focusing on three countries: Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The capitalisation process documented the values, objectives, content and effects of the AGRI+ programme, and drew useful lessons for future agricultural development initiatives.
AGRI+ stands out for its innovative approach based on co-construction, community work and collective learning. Its founding values– social justice, collective action and education as a lever for social change– have guided the entire programme, from its initial conception to the capitalisation phase. The programme combined several components: financial tools, financial management training programmes for farmers’ organisations, support for institutional dialogue and a knowledge production system. Solid partnerships have been established with academic institutions, consultancies and agricultural umbrella organisations, helping to structure and strengthen the impact of the programme.
Three major lessons from the AGRI+ scheme
-
Financial institutions: microfinance institutions (MFIs) have succeeded in maintaining their presence in rural areas and diversifying their services to the agricultural sector. However, their expansion remains hampered by a persistent shortage of financial resources and an often complex security environment.
-
Public policies: while public policies have taken on board the issue of financing family farming, the mechanisms implemented are struggling to reach grassroots farms. Farmers’ organisations often lack information about these schemes, and resources are frequently redirected towards sectors deemed to be more profitable.
-
Farmers’ organisations: professional farmers’ organisations (POs) have been key partners in the AGRI+ programme. The training programme has been particularly appreciated, as it has enabled POs to gain a better understanding of their environment, acquire new skills and feel recognised and supported. However, their fragility persists, and structured professional support is still needed to strengthen their ability to speak collectively and think strategically.
For an in-depth understanding of the achievements, impacts and lessons learned from AGRI+, we invite you to consult the full document available on the SOS Faim website. This report provides a detailed analysis and offers concrete recommendations for future actions to promote agricultural development in the Sahel.
Consulter capitalisation document here